Alpha Pre School

Alpha Pre School Freshbrook Community Centre, Worsley Road, Freshbrook, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 8NU

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Inspection date 30 January 2019 Previous inspection date 10 December 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The manager and staff accurately evaluate the service they are providing. They incorporate the views of parents and use the information gathered from assessment to make changes that benefit the children. n Staff use effective methods to support children's learning. They observe, monitor and assess children's progress accurately. Staff plan based on what children need to learn next. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress in their learning. n Staff have developed good relationships with parents and share information about children's progress effectively. Parents say that they are happy with the care that their children receive. n Children are happy and settled. They form good friendships with other children in the setting. The well-organised environment is interesting and stimulating. Children are confident at making their own choices about what they would like to play with.

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This provision is good

n Although staff keep parents well informed about their children's learning, they do not extend the partnerships to involve all parents in supporting their children's learning at home. n Staff do not always consider children's age and stage of development during large group activities. Younger children find it difficult to take part and lose interest.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n develop methods to involve all parents in supporting their children's learning at home n review the organisation of group activities to encourage all children to take part and engage in learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector took into account the views of the parents spoken to on the day of the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the interactions between the staff and children. n The inspector looked at written documents, including staff files, policies, procedures and risk assessments. n The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager and spoke to the staff and children present at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager uses good procedures to accurately assess and monitor the progress of children, additional funding is used well to raise children's learning outcomes. For instance, the manager works closely with each child's key person to target children's individual, emotional and learning needs effectively. The manager implements robust procedures to safely recruit and manage the ongoing suitability of staff. She offers staff good levels of support and coaching and staff take part in research and training to develop their skills further. Staff reflect positively on how recent training in supporting early letters and sounds has given them new ideas and confidence in following children's interest in early literacy.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn. They use effective methods to gain a detailed understanding of children's needs when they first attend the setting. For example, staff work closely with parents to gather information about their child's routines and the stage of their development. This helps staff to plan for children's next steps in learning. Staff use the information that they gather well to provide a range of activities that are interesting and exciting, to engage children in learning. For instance, staff encourage older children to investigate how icicles look when they use magnifying glasses to examine them closely. Staff support younger children's coordination and physical development well. For example, they encourage children to use cloths and sponges to wash the large cars in the garden.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop secure relationships with their key person and other staff in the setting. Staff help to raise children's confidence and self-esteem. For instance, they spend time showing interest in their chosen play and enthusiastically praise children for their achievements. Staff are positive role models. They support children to learn how to manage their feelings and behaviour effectively, such as through using children's interests in stories to talk about how their actions make other people feel. Children announce that it is not kind to snatch. They are kind and considerate towards their peers. All children behave well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain the skills that prepare them well for the next stage of their learning and the move on to school. All children are keen and motivated to learn. Older children are very independent and demonstrate confidence in their own abilities. For example, they quickly put their coats on, then take on the challenge of doing their coats up. Younger children develop an interest in numbers and counting. They confidently count the plastic animals as they put them in the farm. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY408710 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 10072068 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Alpha Pre School Freshbrook Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 December 2015 Telephone number 07468436852

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reference number

Alpha Pre School registered in 2010. It operates from a room in Freshbrook Community Centre in West Swindon. The pre-school is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm term time only. The pre-school receives funding for free early education for children aged three and four years. There are five members of staff who work with the children. The manager holds an early years foundation degree and the other childcare staff hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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